Israel Considers 60-Day Settlement Freeze

Posted on Oct 4, 2010

Palestinian leaders said Saturday they will not participate in peace talks as long as settlements, like the one above, are allowed to expand deeper into Palestinian territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking a proposal to his key ministers that would revive a freeze on the construction of settlements on seized Palestinian land. The Obama administration is reported to have offered Netanyahu a package of favors and aid in exchange for the freeze.

Over the weekend, Palestinian leaders said the U.S. had failed to get Israel to respond and repeated threats to withdraw from the peace process unless settlement construction was frozen. A new poll shows 66 percent of Palestinians supporting that position. —PZS

Haaretz:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his forum of top ministers on Tuesday afternoon to debate extending Israel’s moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements for 60 days.

The concession would be made in exchange for a series of reported U.S. guarantees in Israel’s direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel halted construction temporarily for 10 months, a freeze that ended on September 26.

Well said, Mr. Freeze ! I think we just need to back away as a nation and no longer
finance Israel. The country is mature enough at this point to sustain itself and
learn to get along with its arab brethren.

As MR FREEZE, I do not authorize the Israelis to use my name in any way, shape or form. I will reconsider this position if, and only if, the Israelis finally become part of the human community. (As if that’s possible)